Burglar protection for safe doors



, T. F. NELSON BURGLAR PROTECTION FOR SAFE DOORS 4 Filed Jan. 5. 1925 I INVENTOR mamas Mk0 Patented Dec. 15, 1925..

THOMAS E. NELSON, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

BURGLAR PROTECTION FOR SAFE DOORS.

Application filed January 5, 1925; Serial 170.708.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. NELSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce, State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burglar Protection for Safe Doors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices which may be applied to safes, vaults, and other closures which it is desired to protect from unauthorized entrance, and has special reference to appliances to be secured to the door of the safe or vault and which, when disturbed by shock or by heat,will immediately 'ive forth a gas which will deter any furtheractions by the burglar and also gives forth a strong scent which attaches itself to the person of the burglar and cannot be washed off and will be strongly evi dent for many hours. The objects of the invention are, first, to provide such an appliance which will be sensitive to both heat and violent shock, and which when thus disturbed will automatically set in action the apparatus; second, to provide means for holding the gases in solution, under pressure, when not in use and to throw said gases out of the apparatus when it is in action; third, to provide means for holding the scents in powdered form, in harmless condition, when not in use, in such Way that the said holding means will be disru ted when the apparatus is set in action and the release of the gases, under pressure, will carry the scent powders on the escaping stream of gas. Other objects are to provide an apparatus which is cheap to make, easy and safe to apply, aand which is efiiectivc in use. i

I attain these and other objects by the devices, mechanisms and arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the inner side of a vault door equipped with my improved burglar protection apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the apparatus,

viewed from the side which is normally adjacent the vault or safe door; p

Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof, on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section of the upper end of the vajor ejection tube; v

Fig, 5 isan elevation of'the firing pin, nerea the apparatu the releasing and Vault and safe doors are usually forced" either by exploding a charge in the door or by applying suflicient heat to burn away the metal at some vital spot. Both of these means are usually applied to the immediate neighborhood of the lock and I therefore mount my apparatus as near to the look as may be convenient.

My apparatus consists of a frame carrying the cartridge, firing pin, and shock or heat-released locking device and also holds the receptacle containing the scent powders and the breakable end of the gas container, together with a pressure gas container, also mounted on the inner side of the vault or safe door in the immediate vicinity of the said frame and in such position that the said breakable portion is inserted in the explosion chamber near the cartridge.

Referring to the drawings, the frame 1 consists of a metal body which is open on the side to be attached to the door of the safe, and closed on the other side by means of a plate 2. This plate 2 may be removed, when the vault door is open, by unscrewing its fastening means, in order to reset the apparatus for firing after it has been discharged. The frame 1 is fastened to the inner side of the safe door 3 close to the lock 4 thereof. The frame is divided into four compartments or sections, the compartment 5 containing the shockor heat-released device; the compartment 6 containing the firing pin and its spring; the compartment 7, being the expansion chamber of the exploded cartridge and also the breaking chamber for the breakable portion of the gas container; and the compartment 8 which holds the receptacle for the scent powders.

The firing pin comprises a heavy body 9, sliding freely in the compartment 6, and having a firing point 10 adapted. to engage the cap of the carriage to explode it. In some cases, where it is not desired to have an explosive cartridge, the point 10 is made longer and passes entirely into the chamber 7 to engage and break the breakable portion of the gas container. The explosive cartridge 11 is positioned in a hole in the wall of the frame between the compartments 6 and 7, with its cap in the compartment 6.

The e e-m n eeed firing b h 9 is pro:

vided with a latch groove 12 on its under side, said groove having an inclined side so as to push away the holding means under the action of the firing spring. The body 9 is propelled forward by a coiled spring 13 compressed in the compartment 6 between the rear of the body 9 and the wall of the frame.

The holding means whereby the firing body is held from motion under the action of the spring 13, comprises a pin 1 1-, passing through a hole in the wall of the frame, between the compartments 5 and 6, and having its upper edge inclined correspond ing to the incline of the groove 12, and positioned to enter the said groove when the apparatus is in cocked position. The pin 14 is held up in the groove 12 by means of the compound prop. This prop comprises a heavy weighted section 15, provided with a central, downward extending leg 16, screw-threaded at its lower end and having an adjusting sleeve 17 screwed thereon, and a fusible point 18. The fusible point 18 bears on the under surface of the end of the pin 14, and the pointed end of the screw sleeve 17 bears on the lower wall of the compartment 5, said sleeve being turned on the leg 16 to bring the point 18 into contact with the pin 14: when the upper end of the pin is in the groove 12 of the firing body, thus preventing the spring 13 from forcing the pin 14 down and releasing the firing body 9. The sleeve 17 is only screwed down sufiiciently to hold the prop in place but not sufficient to prevent its disturbance therefrom under heavy shock.

The container for the scent powderseomprises a metal box 19 closed by light paper ends and containing scent powders such as valerinate of ammonia, iodiform, and capsicum, either alone or mixed, and in a finely powdered condition. These powders act to some extent to deter the burglar through physical discomfort but also are of such a character as to stick to his skin and clothing and be readily recognized for several hours, thus, in case the burglar gets away from the scene of his crime, he is unable to divest himself of the incriminating evidence of the special odors attaching to him whereby he may be easily traced, captured and identified. The powders are blown out of the container 19 by the explosion of the cartridge 11. and are carried out on the air by the stream of gas simultaneously released, as described below.

A ga container comprising an upper manifold 20; a. lower manifold 21; a plurality of tubes connecting the, two said manifolds; and an ejecting tube 23, is mounted on the vault orsafe door immediately adjacent to the above described frame 1. The ejecting tube 23 is provided h l? Washable as la Q l 24-; Prefera y of.

glass, having a very small bore, which extends up through a hole in the lower wall of the above described compartment 7 to a point adjacent the cartridge 11 and is of such a character-that it is easily broken by the explosion of said cartridge. As above noted, in some cases it is desirable to omit the explosive cartridge and in such cases the point of the firing body itself hits the said glass extension 2 and breaks it. The

gas to be ejected through the tubes 23 and 24 is in liquid form, or is held in suspension in a liquid, and lies in the lower manifold 21 and in the lower portions of the tubes 22 and 23 and is under pressure from air in the upper manifold 20 and in the upper parts of the tubes 22. This air pressure may be applied in any convenient way and is sealed against escape. \Vhen the end of the tube 2st is broken, the air pressure back of the liquid forces it out through the tube 23 and sprays it from the end of the fine tube 21 and this spray carries with it the fine scent powders already referred to. I prefer to use formaldehyde, or tear gas, or ammonia in the tubes and a pressure of from 75 lbs. to 200 lbs. per square inch may be used to throw the gas out.

This apparatus is set up for action as follows: The receptacles for the powder and for the gas being suitably charged and in place, and the plate 2 having been removed so as to expose the compartments, the firing body 9 is pushed back to compress the spring 13 and the pin 15lis pushed up, through the hole provided for it, into engagement with the groove 12 in the body 9; then the prop is placed under the said pin 14 and the sleeve 17 is screwed down until it engages lightly with the wall of the frame. The cartridge 11 may now be placed in position and the plate 2 secured tothe frame. If desired a small hole or window 25 is made in the plate 2 adjacent the cartridge 11, so that the said cartridge may be put in place or removed without unscrewing the plate 2.

Now if heat is applied to the safe door, for the purpose of robbery, it quickly communicates itself to the fusible point 18 which softens or melts and permits the spring 13 to force the pin 1 1- down and drive the body 9 to fire the cartridge 11. Or, if an explosive means is used of wrecking the lock, the inertia of the weight 15 throws the prop out of position from under the pin 14- and thus releases the body 9 to fire the cartridge 11. hen the cartridge is thus fired, it breaks the tube 24 and the paper ends of the box 19 and quickly loads the air with gases which cause discomfort and distress to the burglar and prevent his continuing his raid and also attach to his person the strong identifying odors above referred to.

It is ofcoer e' un erstood that I do not intend to limit myself to the use of any specific chemicals nor to the specific form under which they are held, but I have described the invention as I conceive to be the best form for the general purposes intended, however, it is to be understood that in some cases it is desirable to omit the powder receptacle and sometimes to mix the articles therein with the substances in the liquid receptacles; and also it is sometimes desirable to omit the explosive cartridge and to use the mechanical force of the firing body to break the tube as above set forth.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim is v 1. A burglar protection for safe doors comprising a receptacle containing vapor under pressure; a breakable extension of said receptacle; a spring actuated body adapted to break said extension; a holding means restraining said body from action; and a removable prop for said holding means.

2. A burglar protection for safe doors as set forth in claim 1, wherein said removable prop is provided with a fusible point whereby it is caused to fall away from the holding means on the application of heat thereto.

3. A burglar protection for safe doors as set forth in claim 1, wherein said removable prop is provided with a weighted portion whereby it is caused to fall away from the holding means when a shock is applied to the apparatus.

4. A burglar protection for safe doors,

comprising a frame; an explosive cartridge held in said frame; a spring actuated firing body, having a latch groove with an inclined side therein; a holding pin adapted to enter said latch groove to engage the inclined side thereof, against the action of the spring of said firing body, whereby said firing body tends to push said holding pin out of said latch groove to release the firing body; and a removable prop engaging the frame and the holding pin and preventing the motion of the holding pin under the pressure of said spring actuated firing body.

5. A burglar protection for safe doors as set forth in claim 4, together with a container holding powders and adapted to be disrupted by the explosion of the cartridge to release the powders on the air when the cartridge is fired.

6. A burglar protection for safe doors as set forth in claim 4:, together with a container holding vapors under pressure and adapted to be disrupted by the explosion of the cartridge to release the vapors as a spray on the air when the cartridge is fired.

7. A burglar protection for safe doors as set forth in claim 4:, together with a container holding powders and with a second container holding vapors under pressure, both said containers being adapted to be disrupted by the explosion of said cartridge to release the powders and vapors therein on the air and whereby the spray of vapors carries the powders.

THOMAS F. NELSON. 

